James Phelan
Chasers – The Alone series
7/10
Chasers are the title that a group of saviours give the infected population. A group of 4 friends that were attending an UN youth event, they were traveling in the subway when an explosion occurred, derailing the train, when everyone reawaken people were dead. They eventually got to the surface were they saw these people were drinking the blood of the dead; they would chase any person for the chance of a drink. The story is of how this group escaped the clutches of the chasers and made it to safety. This book has the best twist in the end, of any books that I have read.
Reading this book it made me think of what I would do in this situation would I run and hide, fight back or just let myself die and be drunk.
We read the story through the eyes of Jesse, the unofficial leader of the group; he makes all the main decisions for the group and leads them to salvation. James writes like he is the person, and says what he thinks should happen and how if this situation actually occurred what they would do.
By Matthew Burt
Posted in Future November 20, 2011
By Andy Mcnab with Robert Rigby
7/10
This is the second book out of the series; it’s the story of Fergus and Danny Watts. Fergus, an ex SAS hero who was framed as a traitor has returned to England to get payback to the man who framed him. With the help of Danny, Fergus’ grandson and Elena, Danny’s friend they take down the head of security, for the “firm” and help in retrieving 15 million pounds of drug money.
You read the story through the eyes of Danny an 18 year old, a grade student through what he sees and experiences with his long lost grandfather. The story has been written brilliantly by an exe SAS hero himself.
To understand this book you must first read the first book, “Boy soldier”.
By Matthew Burt
Posted in ADVENTURE November 20, 2011
MY top 10 tools:
GlogsterEDU: WOW for simple posters with links to dynamic website portals.
Animoto: Movies from still images.
Prezi: great for dynamic presentations, kids love it.
BookBox: Love having a dynamic way to show what I’m reading.
Jing: put together instructions with screen captures.
Only2clicks: great way to collect websites with visuals.
Irfanview: another screen capture program.
ThesisBUilder: kids get quick essay outline ready to add their evidence.
Issuu: change your word docs into a published looking online book!
Mashpedia:collected info from range of web 2.0 sources.
Check out other peoples top 10s
http://c4lpt.co.uk/top-tools/share-your-top-10-tools/
Posted in Education links November 12, 2011
By Em Bailey
Hardie Grant Egmont, Richmond VIC, 2011
Themes: Identitiy, Friendship, Mental health
Summary: Olive isn’t crazy, but she is a different girl to the one she used to be. When the new girl Miranda, hooks up with the popular Katie, leeching her of personality, energy and even her boyfriend, Olive and Ami wonder if the rumours about her being a killer might be true. Will anyone believe Olive when she tries to save Katie? Can she be strong enough to protect herself from Miranda’s obsessions? Will she let Lachlan help her?
Comment: Watching Miranda use her mind games to manipulate both girls is fascinating but sickening. The struggle to be friends while maintaining one’s own identity, not ‘selling out’ to fit in, underly this psychological drama. How easily our self belief is dented to the point where we no longer know who to trust. Has all the ingredients for a great read: romance, suspense, a strong female character and a great ending. The cover art is pretty good too.
Mrs Baker
Posted in Families ,Friendship ,Identity Tagged: Reviews November 7, 2011
Posted in Uncategorized August 1, 2011
‘Underground’, the fourth in the Phoenix Files series is another exciting, wild adventure. As the title suggests, a lot of the action takes place underground and for Luke and Jordan it can be difficult finding out whose side the different characters are on. Who are Kara and Soren and what is their role in what is going on? Luke and Jordan are in the thick of the action again, but Peter has become rather scary and has been confined by Kara. Jordan too is changing in a different way. In this book, the families learn something of what Luke, Jordan and Peter are up to and try to help.
The reader is thrown right into the action in the story from the start, so that you really need to read the previous books before starting on this one. A great book for those who like plenty of action.
Mrs Sutton
Posted in Australian ,Future ,Science Fiction Tagged: Phoenix Files Series July 14, 2011
By Tabitha Suzuma
Themes: Death, Guilt, Bullying
Summary: Raven finally gets to leave Bedford House to live with a foster family, the Russels and start at a new school. He struggles to cope with his new life while every part of him wants to withdraw from it all. Up against the bullies, Kyle and Brett, at school and at home with Dan, Jackie and little Ella he realises that he hasn’t been able to stop himself from wanting friends, love and acceptance. When he gets the chance to talk to Lotte outside class he finds an eager friend. While waiting for the bus he tells her about how his mum died. Together they make plans to confront her killer.
The author does a wonderful job of letting us see the workings of a teenage mind so tied up in anger, guilt and grief that it can’t recognise the truth. The mystery of Anna’s killer unfolds quietly, painfully and is finally put to rest.
Mrs Baker
Posted in death ,Families ,Mystery Tagged: Bullying, death, guilt May 12, 2011
By Cath Crowley
Themes: Art, Love, Growing up
Summary: Lucy has just finished year 12. She and her friend Jazz meet up with Daisy for a night of fun. With Daisy’s ex boyfriend Dylan and his mates Ed and Leo they head off from Barry’s Cafe to a party and into the night. The boys plan to commit a robbery to solve their money problems. Leo owes psycho Malcom Dove who threatens to hurt someone to get his money. Lucy is obsessed with meeting the graffiti artist Shadow and Ed is the last person she wants to spend time with after an unfortunate first date (where he touched her arse and she broke his nose) but he says he know where Shadow might be. On their trip around the city they learn more about eachother, sharing their love of art and thier worries.
Lucy learns that what she has been looking for has been there in front of her all along but she has been looking for a myth she’s created in her mind. The truth is scarier but more satisfying than her imaginings.
The story takes place over one night and the action really moves along. I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. When the action reached its crisis my heart was pounding. Would the boys make the right decision about the robbery? Would Lucy find Shadow was who she wanted him to be? Would Malcom hurt someone? Loved it!
Mrs Baker
Posted in Art ,Families ,Growing Up ,Real Life ,Romance Tagged: Art, Growing Up, Love May 12, 2011
By Fiona Woods
Themes: Family, Growing up, School, Relationships
Summary: “Guys, one life changing shock at a time.” Dan’s life has been turned upside down. His dad told them he was bankrupt, gay and leaving. His mum is trying to cope but her wedding cake business is not going well. Dan has to move to a new school and a new home. Luckily his mum’s Aunt Adelaide has left them a house stuffed full of antiques but they can’t sell anything as it all belongs to the National Trust. The one bright light is the girl next door, Estelle. Will she even notice him? Dan writes himself a list of 6 impossible things.
1. Kiss Estelle. 2. Get a job. 3. Cheer up his mother. 4. Try not to be a complete loser at his new school. 5. Talk to his father. 6. Be good.
Dan changes his life from odd sock to cool, responsible, truthful friend and manages to tackle all of the things on his list. I really enjoyed this story with all of its issues woven subtly together from bullying to having a gay dad to the ethics of reading someone’s diary.
Mrs Baker
Posted in Families ,Friendship Tagged: Family, Growing Up, relationships, School May 12, 2011
By Rae Mariz
Future, Freedom, Choice
Summary: Kid watches a dummy fall from a balcony railing on the fifth floor into The Pit thinking that it is a real body. It is labelled “unidentified. choose your suicide.” Is it a publicity stunt or is there something else going on? Who are the Unidentified?
Kid goes to school (The Game) in an old shopping mall where the sponsors pay for everything and the kids all want to be branded. But Kid discovers that being signed up, althoughsolving her mother’s money worries, comes at a cost. With the help of her friends, Ari and Mikey, Kid does her best to work out what the Unidentified are trying to achieve and what she really values in life.
A realistic future image of teenagers and schools which really makes you question how far corporations will go to influence teenagers. The real cost of allowing commercial interests to run education is in the loss of freedom of choice. However the story offers hope showing that individual thought is not so easily subverted.
Mrs Baker
Posted in Friendship ,Future ,School May 12, 2011
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